After all the mercurial changes in temperature, it looks like some of this tropical summer weather is going to settle down and fall will really be upon us. By the time the goblins, princesses and various sizes of Batman and Robin come trick-or-treating, I predict the temperatures will drop.

Myrna Fearer/Wicked Local Danvers

After all the mercurial changes in temperature, it looks like some of this tropical summer weather is going to settle down and fall will really be upon us. By the time the goblins, princesses and various sizes of Batman and Robin come trick-or-treating, I predict the temperatures will drop.

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Speaking of trick-or-treat, I must share my candy frustration with you. Since I generally get anywhere from 100 to 150 youngsters I like to be prepared. This year, instead of buying umpteen individual bags, I bought a bag of one of the good brands with what I thought were 135 fun size candy bars. I was planning to supplement this with one or two other kinds of candy. When I got home I happened to look through the part of the cellophane bag you could see through only to discover one of the candy bars was actually a mini. So I looked at the packaging on the label, all the time berating myself for my stupidity. I couldn’t believe it: three of the candy bars were listed as fun size, the fourth was labeled mini, which means I would have to hand out two each instead of one.

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Several days later, I bought another bag that costs more but it does have 150 fun size bars of Hershey brand candy. Oh, and don’t think I’m going to keep all that candy; I’m planning on returning the first bag. I’ll still pick up a few more individual bags so I’ll have something left for me. After all, Halloween is a tough night especially since I can’t get to the one neighbor I recently heard gives out little tastes of wine to the adults bringing kids around. Who knew? I’m always home handing out candy.

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As long as we’re on sweet treats, all of you Mallomar lovers must be getting ready to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the delicious cookie made up of a graham cracker topped with a fluffy blob of marshmallow and covered with chocolate. Mallomar cookies are made from September to March only because of concern for melting chocolate. It has already been appearing on shelves the past few weeks. I’m waiting to see what special offers Nabisco is planning to come out with as the Nov. 13 anniversary date draws closer. Just like the Twinkie, there should be lots of hype over this.

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In addition to store-bought cookies there are still lots of people who take pride in their own baking. Some of these folks even enter contests like the Topsfield Fair. Monday night I was one of the judges of the Fleischmann’s Yeast contest. Prizes were $125, $50 and $25 in the bread contest and $125 in the “Dessert Pizza” contest. There were entries from all over Essex County and beyond but only one from Danvers. Congratulations to Julie Annese, who was named the New Entry Award winner for which she will receive a Fleischmann’s Yeast apron and a large yellow ribbon. (She didn’t return for the results.) Interestingly, for many years the company donated $10 to “Bake for the Cure” for every entry into one part of the Fleischmann’s Yeast contest. Now they donate $10 for every entree to the Share Our Strength No Kid Hungry Campaign. Kudos to Fleischmann’s.

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For those of you who meant to enter one of the baking contests, and let it slip by, there is still time. As a special favor, co-chair Phyllis Berrett is allowing anyone who wishes to enter the King Arthur Favorite No-Yeast Coffee Cake adult category (18 and up), which will be judged today, (Oct. 10) can still enter if you have your entry in between 4 and 6 p.m. Prizes include a $75 gift certificate to the Baker’s Catalogue for first, a $50 gift certificate to the Baker’s Catalogue, second, and a King Arthur Flour logo muffin pan, third. Go to www.topsfieldfair.or/ehfood.php for rules.

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Tomorrow, enter the Apple Pie Contest by getting your entry in between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Entry deadline is again waived. First place is a $75 gift certificate from Cider Hill Farm and a ½ bushel of apples from the same farm; second prize is $50 plus the ½ bushel of apples; and third is $25 and a bag of apples. Again, check the fair website.

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Last chance to enter a contest is Monday. This is the Favorite Holiday Cookie category and the fun part is the contest itself — it’s a parent and child collaboration. Parent must be 18 and over and child has to be between the ages of 6 and 17. Cookies have to be delivered between 10 and 11.30 a.m. Judging begins at noon. First place earns $75 and a blue ribbon, second is $25 and a red ribbon and third is $15 and a white ribbon. This contest is Monday, Oct. 14, the last fair day and your last chance to enter before the fair closes. Again, refer to the above website for rules and regulations.

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Before I left the fair grounds Monday night, I dropped into the flower building. I knew there would be a terrific display from Curran Brothers Florist and I wasn’t disappointed. Danvers Garden Club members also outdid themselves and won all sorts of accolades in their respective categories. First place blue ribbon went to Carrie Podmostka, who also received the one Artistic Craft award. Terri Turner also won a first. Betty Anderson received a second and Toni Theriault and Sandra Sears each received a third. Betty Anderson’s hat entry was very reminiscent of the chapeaux designed by British milliner Stephen Jones that were on display at the PEM in Salem.

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DGC’s Deborah Stashias-Pugia won six firsts in horticulture; several for wreaths, a swag and an arrangement under glass. Sue Nickerson won two seconds and a third for her zinnias. Congratulations to all the winners. By the way, those results are just for the first round of competition; there’s more to come.

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Last Thursday I went to the wake for Mark Veilleux, a very courageous young man who lived his life in spite of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Thanks to Mark’s incredible family, his mom and dad Mark and Judy Veilleux, and his sister Amy and her husband Jay Wilichoski, Mark beat the odds and lived longer than many other people with MD. In addition, Mark had extraordinary friends and relatives who fought the battle with him. Sadly, we all had to say our final goodbye. However, the example he set has left a memorable legacy in this town that will never be forgotten.

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We know it’s not part of her job description but I have to tell you that not only can senior center director Pam Parkinson cook she can also paint. Last Friday, Pam refused to leave the center and go on her well-deserved vacation before she painted the room that will be the headquarters for the new Social Seniors program. I happened to speak to her to ask a question and also wish her a happy vacation but she didn’t return my call until Friday night after she finished painting. I told her she was crazy but she said, “I really wanted the room to look nice. I do so want this program to succeed.”

With that kind of passion and commitment, it can’t do anything but.

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The other day I had to stop at BJ’s for something and I bumped into Debbie Skinner, who has been working there part time for several years. She commutes from her home in Guilford, N.H. Debbie will soon be leaving the Danvers store to work at a new BJ’s opening nearer to her home. Seeing Deb gave me the opportunity to ask about her husband, Ron, retired Danvers firefighter and part-time deputy harbormaster. I knew Ron couldn’t just sit on the porch and watch the water on the lake. According to Debbie, Ron is a call firefighter and he is the fire department’s car seat installer and checker, a job he loves. Oh yes, he also mows some big lawn, which is very time consuming. Seems like our Ron is keeping in shape, mentally and physically.

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You can check Ron out when he and Debbie show up for the Lynda J. Talbot 5K Memorial Run/Walk in memory of Debbie’s sister-in-law. She and Bruce Talbot are brother and sister. The race will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m., from the Great Oak School. Pre-registration is available on Oct. 18, 4 to 7 p.m., or register on Oct. 19, at 8:30 a.m., at the Great Oak School. Registration is $30 and $20 for anyone under 18. You can mail donations to Stacy Talbot Bazylinski at 16 Glendale Drive with your information and check or to Julie Talbot Donnelly, 6 Crestline Circle.

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We should be able to promise them a great day and if the weather seems like it’s going to frump out, all they have to do is hang a Rosary over the fence (or out a window since we’ve heard both) to make the sun shine. Ye of little faith are probably laughing about now, but you shouldn’t. It worked for John and Noreen Doyle and Pam and Sam Parkinson. Each of their daughters was married on Labor Day Sunday. The weather went from rain to sunshine in time for their destination weddings. Too bad we didn’t get some people to do that for the Hospice Walk a few weeks ago.

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We want to congratulate the new officers of the Danvers Kiwanis Club, who were installed a week ago by Lt. Gov. Irene Kucinski. It was quite a feat for Irene, who broke her tibia, fibula and her ankle. She’s even had to have a rod surgically put in leg. Poor Irene still can’t put any weight it but like the trooper she is, she managed to get to the Danversport Yacht Club last week and install all the officers, including new president Art Skarmeas, from her wheelchair. Now that’s quite a commitment.

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Sunday I was honored to attend the baptism of Kyriaki Demetra Andrinopoulos, daughter of Elias and Tasia and granddaughter of Kary and Pat Andrinopoulos and Irene Vasiliou and John Vasiliou. This was actually a double baptism. Kyriaki is the cousin of Alexandra Panagiota Vasiliou and the two little girls shared their special day.

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Family friend Father Kerry Saravelas performed both sacraments at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody. As before, the couples provided guests with a booklet explaining the symbols and the service. In addition, Father Kerry also explained the liturgy as he went along. Once again, it was a beautiful service in a beautiful church.

The reception followed at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, which is a great place to be any month of the year except October. Unfortunately, the parking lot filled up before I could find a space and as one guy said to me when I thought he was leaving, (he wasn’t) “Good luck finding a space. It’s Halloween month in Salem, you know.” Of course I did. But after five trips around Washington Square and up and down a few streets that all had residents only signs, plus a lot of praying, I did find a space. Thankfully it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm — even the rain couldn’t do that. Despite those little glitches, it was a great day, a beautiful event and a very meaningful service.

Congratulations to both families. Though everyone had a terrific time, I can’t say that about the guests of honor. The babies weren’t particularly thrilled and let everyone know it, especially Kyriaki who then wound up sleeping through the entire reception. Kids sure are unpredictable, especially teething babies. Then again, I think I’d cry too, if my gums hurt. Kyriaki, though, has a memento she will appreciate someday. Her grandfather, her Papou Kary, wrote a very touching and beautiful poem to his granddaughter in Greek. Elias translated it into English. Kary also wrote one for his first granddaughter, Irina, Kyriaki’s sister, for her baptism. Tradition is very special.

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Don’t forget that Oct. 24 is the night for a magical evening, the DEEP wine and food tasting at the Danversport Yacht Club, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. For a $35 donation, which goes toward bettering our schools and helping teachers provide for the enrichment programs that the budget couldn’t afford, try to make this a priority. There will be food from 15 to 20 restaurants plus lots of wine and beer tastings. To get your tickets in advance drop by Merchants Liquors. Tickets are only $35 for a wonderful evening.

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Remember that this Thursday is the town’s open house. Many town offices, the police station, fire headquarters, the library and the senior center and the electric division will be welcoming children and their parents. Drive carefully; it gets dark early and people of all ages, especially kids, will be on the streets.